Pencil



Jun 4, 1929. c w 1 1,716,253

PENCIL Filed Jan. 5, 1922 Afr/$512 gal A? i lrwen for: John G lfafi/Patented June 4, 1929.

I UNITED. STAT S 1,716,253 ii A E FFl T q- JOHN C. WAHL, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIs, ASSIGNQR TO THE WAHL COM AN or v CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PENCIL.

Application filed January 5, 1922. Serial No. 527,086.

My invention relates to pencils. It has special reference to mechanicalpencils to wherein actuating devices are provided for propelling a leadthrough the body of the pencil into exposed position.

This invention has special reference to improvements in my pendingapplication, Serial N 0. 500,555, now Patent N 0. 1,490,247 whereinsubstantially the same form, substance and arrangement of parts arepresent.

This invention has special reference to parts functioning to advance thelead that embrace characteristics of structure that will permit aretraction of the feeding mechanism without the requirement of turningthe same in screw action manner.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the pencil with partsin complete assembly. I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally through thecenterlofthe pencil.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3.3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of a shell adapted for relation to thegeneral structure to effect a normal closure of an extra lead containerspace. I

Figure 6 is a view at right angles of Figure 5. 1

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.' I

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 88'of Figure 2.

The pencil herein exemplified has as its general object, is particularlypointed out in my co-pending application 500,555,) theprovision of apencil that is readily separable as to parts so that it may be takendown by the user to the end of correction of faults or defects that maydevelop in its use. Also in this,.and in the application re-.

ferred to, I have applied the lead propeller to its operative support ina manner to carry out its general purpose of advancement to propel thelead wherein a screw action movement is essential. I have hereinprovided such relationing of the lead propellerto its support that thelatter may be moved rearwardly by directpull. to effect release of thepropeller from the feed member without the requirement of the turningaction of its support that attended its advancement.

In the companion application referred the threaded lead propeller, itwill be noted, co-operates with a fixed threaded feed member withintheshell whereby through advancement Within and beyond the fixed threadedmember, it may be brought in contact with the lead. The same principleis involved here, but I have 'advancedthe thought a step eliminating therequirement of" applied screw action to the lead propeller to cause itsrelease from the fixed threaded member. This object is attained by mereexaggeration over the ordinarydegree of screw pitch, both as to theleadpropeller and the fixed threaded member, and providing sufficientclearance that in the co action of the propel ler and the threadedmember, the former, acting: under a direct pull, may readily bewithdrawn from the fixed threaded member. It is to the detailed meansand the general thought herein set out that my present invention isdirected. Y

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a'main casing or body terminating atits forward end with a gradually tapered portion 11. 11 is a tip whichshall not refer to specially as it forms no I part of the presentinvention. 12 is a feed or union member provided with a centrallydisposed threaded way 13. A forwardly extending the union member is-oflarger'diameter threaded bore than that of the threaded opening13 in themain'body of the union member. A rearwardly extending part 16 of theunion member is formed" at'its rear extremity with a tapered centeringway 17. "18 is a flanged shell fixed in the tube against which the feedor union member 12 part 14' of farther with the ideaof I is adapted toabut." 19 is a lead guide fashioned fol-union respectivelyat one endwith the'feed or union member and at the other end with the tip,

and being fashioned with.

an inward taper at its rear end as'at 20 to 5 facilitate centering withrespect to a lead propeller and the bore of the'lead guide. 21

1s a tube or interior casing comprising members 22 and 23 suitablyjoined, its forward end being fixed to the feed or union member and itsrear end abuttingwith casing 10, through its flange member-23. Theflange portion 23 of the tube provided with,

clearance ways or openings 24 (see'Figx to facilitate entry'of extraleads. 25 is a hereinafter particularly referred to.

flanged spacing ring fixed to tube 21 which also serves to define theforward limits of an extra lead chamber. 26 is a shell or aotuatingmember provided with longitudinal channel ways 27, and is threaded as at28 to facilitate union with a threaded extension 29 of a closure member30 of a head memioer he forward end of the tube 26 is fashioned as at 31to provide aclearance seat for a cross head 34 of the lead propeller,later. to be described, said shell being inturned as at 32 to form athrust bearing to limit forward advancement of the lead propeller and isfashioned with respect to the cross head of the lead propeller to,facilitate the latters turning within the clearance space 31 of the tubewith the least possible friction.

33 is a lead propeller, the same being threaded throughout the greaterportion of its length at a pitch in exaggeration of normal screw threadsto conform with a similar exaggeration in screw pitch of the threads inthe feed or union member. The lead propeller is supported Within.andrelated to the shell member 21 in a manner to permit relativelongitudinal movement therebetween without excessive friction. The leadpropeller is provided with alaterally extending portion or cross head(which in the exemplification herein consists in merely flattening thebody of the propeller as at 34) adapted to engage the channel ways 27 inshell 26 whereby the lead propeller is permitted to reciprocatewithinthe tube but is related thereto in a manner that itis turned withthe tube. In practice the lead propeller, having been advanced, with itsforward end lodged in the centering way 17 of feedor union member 12, byturning the tube 21, its threaded portion will be caused to engage thethreaded portion of the feed or unionmember and thereby will be advancedinto position to apply pressure to the lead section within the leadguide.

Attention is here specially called to the functioning of the leadpropeller with respect to the feed or union member in the matter of theformer being withdrawn from the latter under direct pull and without thenecessity of manual application to promote screw action. The action isas follows:

The lead propeller havingbeen advanced within the shell 26, into aposition where the latterly projecting members thereon are in relief ofthe channel ways 27 and lodged within the clearance space 31, then,because of the exaggerated pitch of the threads of the propeller andfeed or union member and the thrust bearing 32 and because, in theposition described, the propeller is in relief of. the lateral stopeffected by the channel ways in the tube, by direct pull applied to saidshell it Will be withdrawn from tube 21 and similarly the lead propellerwill be Withdrawn. The action of such line pull will cause the propellerto be turned within the feed or union member until in complete relief ofthe latter and this without applying any screw action to shell 26; theaction being that as in the so-called Yankee screw driver.

35 is a shell member adapted to be seated between the outer wall .of thetube 21 and the inner wall of the portion 26 of tube 21 and is sorelated to the rearward end opening of the extra lead space within thecasing as to effect normal closure against exit of lead sections, butco-operating in conjunction with shell 26 to effect such closure andopening as is desirable in carrying out the purposes and uses of thepencil, all of which is fully described in my pending application,

this noted fact there is no requirement for special reference tov saidhead member except to say that it is the means applied to the tube forthe convenience of the latters manipulation and serves in a general wayas a closure to the rear end of the casing.

What 1 claim is:

1. In a pencil, a casing, means within the casing for guiding a lead,screw acting means within the pencil for advancing the lead comprising athreaded feed member fixed within the casing, a threaded lead propellerco-operating therewith, the threads of said co-operating members havinga steep pitch, and an operating member fashioned for guiding the leadpropeller and operative to turn the latter and to permit relativelongitudinal movement therebetween, but provided with clearance spaceand a thrust bearing at its forward portion, whereby, upon direct pullupon the operative member the propeller is caused to turn freely thereinunder the pull of the feed member.

2. In a pencil, a casing, means within the casing for guiding a lead,threaded means for advancing the lead, comprising a stationaryinternally threaded part and a projectable member, an'operating elementfor guiding said member, fashioned to permit relative reciprocationtherebetween, the combined turning action of said element and membercausing the advancement'of said member within the pencil, said elementbeing provided with clearance space and a thrust bearing at its forwardend whereby in a certain relative longitudinal position only of saidmember and said element the said member will be free to rotaterelatively to said element.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, athreaded propeller, a threadedscrew feed member in threaded engagement with said propeller, means forcausing relative rotation of said last two mentioned parts to project alead from said casing, and said first mentioned means being providedwith a thrust bearing and clearance space for releasing said propellerfrom said first mentioned means, the threads on said propeller and feedmember having an exaggerated pitch for causing an unscrewing movementbetween said threaded members upon a straight longitudinal pull on oneof them to retract the propeller when the propeller has substantiallyreached its forwardmost position.

4. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, a threaded feed member fixed withinthe casing, a propeller for ejecting lead from said casing, threadsassociated with said propeller for engagement with the threads of saidfeed member to cause longitudinal movement of the propeller uponrelative rotation of the threaded parts, a rotatable actuating member,said propeller having connection with said actuating member to rotatetherewith and be longitudinally slidable with relation thereto, saidactuating member being pro-- vided with a clearance space and thrustbearing for releasing said propeller from said actuating member, thethreads on said propeller and feed member having an exaggerated pitchfor permitting the withdrawal of said propeller rearwardly by a straightlongitudinal pull on said actuating member, said withdrawal beingpossible when said propeller is in substantially its most advancedposition with relation to said actuating member.

5. In a pencil, a casing having a threaded teed member fixed thereto, aninterior actuator shell rotatable with relation to the feed member andhaving a longitudinal guideway therein and a thrust bearing at the endthereof, a propeller having threaded engagement with said feed memberand a projection for longitudinal sliding engagement with said guidewayas the propeller is rotated with the shell, said guideway terminatingshort of the inner end of the shell to form a clearance space in whichsaid projection may rotate with relation to the shell to permitwithdrawal of the propeller by straight longitudinal pull on said shell.

6. In a pencil, a casing, lead propelling mechanism comprising innerengaging threaded parts including a lead propeller, an actuator forrotating one of said parts with relation to the other, and means toeffect an unscrewing movement of said inner engaging parts and to effectthe retracting upon a straight longitudinal pull of said actuator.

7. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, an internally threaded member fixedwithin said casing, a threaded propeller adapted for threaded engagementwith said internally threaded member, means for actuating said propellerwith relation to said casing, the threads on said propeller and in saidinternally threaded member being of steep pitch, said actuating meansbeing provided with a clearance space for releasing said propeller fromsaid actuating means whereby when the propeller has reached its positionof maximum projection a straight longitudinal pull on said actuatingmeans will cause the propeller to be actuated and retracted.

8. In a pencil, a casing, lead propelling mechanism, comprisinginter-engaging threaded parts including a lead propeller, an actuatorfor rotating said propeller with relation to the other part, saidactuating member being provided with a clearance space and a thrustbearing for releasing the propeller from said actuator, said threadedparts having threads of exaggerated pitch to eftect an unthreadingmovement of said interengaging parts and to effect the retracting upon astraight longitudinal pull of said actuator.

9. In a pencil, a casing, lead, propelling mechanism comprisinginter-engaging threaded parts including a lead propeller provided with aprojection, an actuator for rotating one of said parts in relation tothe other and comprising a shell provided with a thrust bearing at theend thereof and a guideway adapted for engagement with said projectionand terminatingshort of the end of said shell providing a clearancespace/in.

which said projection may rotate with relation to the shell to permitwithdrawal of the propeller by a straight longitudinal pull on saidshell.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 1

JOHN C. WAHL.

